Intro:

South African prosecutor Gerrie Nel argued for an appeal in the sentencing of Oscar Pistorius on Tuesday (9th December), saying that the shortest possible period of incarceration would be "shockingly inappropriate".

Script:

SOUNDBITE (English) Gerrie Nel, prosecutor:
"I do not have to convince this court that it is shockingly inappropriate. I, however, say that there is a very good prospect that we may convince the appeal court that the shortest possible period of incarceration in a situation like this, my Lady, is shockingly inappropriate. And, therefore, my Lady, we say we have made out a good case for leave to appeal on sentence."

SOUNDBITE (English) Gerrie Nel, prosecutor:
"My Lady, what the court should have done, without disrespect, is accepting or rejecting the accused's version (of events which led to death of Reeva Steenkamp). His version is untrue, cannot be reasonably, possibly true, and he cannot rely on mutually destructive versions (of events) and the court will not even give effect to his mutually destructive versions. And if that was done, my Lady, the decision would have been different."